Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-14
THE LEGISATURE.

The legislature will meet tomorrow
All the members read THE GAZETTE, but
it is not intended to take advantage OF
thst fact to deliver lecture as long as
the moral law to them about what they
are expected to do. The members one
and all go to Austin inspired with de-
sire to do some real good for the state,
and as matter of fact there is danger
this inspiration may have SO much zeal
about it they will attempt to do
too much. Quite number of the
members have been there before
now, and the experience of past
sessions should be of value to them now
in steering clear of wildcat, crude
legislation Gf such shall be threat
ened) and deyoting the time to prac-
tical, important matters. The few leading
subjects on which the people confident
ly expect action may be counted on the
ten fingers. After they are disposed Of,
public sentiment will he measurably
passive as regards matters Of minor I'M
portance. The first thing that ought to
be taken up and disposed of with as little
delay as possible, to the exclusion of all
other matters, if need be, is relief for
the people in the drouth-stlcken
counties. There will be several measures
presented, no doubt looking 20 this end.
The legislature can take its pick from the
lot, selecting the one that promises
the greatest amount of relief, with the
least delay, and with due regard to the
manner in which the money shall be
raised. After this comes the land ques-
ton. THE GAZETTE would have placed
it first on the list but for the fact that
human suffering ought to take precedence
of everything. How any legislator can
give the land question careful, intelligent,
unbiased consideration and reach any
other conclusion than that the lease law
ought to be repealed, is beyond THE GA
zETTE's comprehension. Another meas
ure in the line OF humanity is the estab-
lishment of reformatory for crimi
nails of tender years. 1t is a
shame on civilization that children
should be placed in company with crimi-
nails OF mature years. The children Of
the state have prospective interest in
lands that will belong to the perma-
nent school fund if Greer county is ever
awarded to Texas. The legislature
should stand between the children and
the land spectators who would raid
these lands. The people want to have
the prohibition question settled for good
and all, and the only way to do that is TO
give the people an opportunity to vote
on prohibitory amendment. Everybody
knows that the Texas road-lsW is fear
full and wonderful law. The legislator
who can devise real improvement on
the road law will be a public benefactor-
and as almost any change will be an i'm
provement, it is to be hoped men,
bers will not be backward in suggestions
The homestead-exemption laws are not in
accordance with the spirit of the age.
They SAVIOR of the patriarchal era and do
not make man the free agent he ought to
be, to do as he lists with his own; they
make money nearly twice as high-priced
as it ought to be. These laws ought to
be revised. The election law is the acme
of mossbackism. A very simple change
will enable the people to learn the result
of elections the day after the ballots
are cast. A week to ten days is required
now. These constitute the measures of
re4l importance and THE GAZETTE, re-
hecting the aspirations of the people,
hopes for action on each and every one of
them. Perhaps the action that is taken
will not be, in every instance, Just what
this or that section of the state could de-
sire, but the greatest good to the greatest
number is the end of enlightened,
patriotic legislation, and the people have
4 right TO hope for some real good at the
hands of the Twentieth legislature.